Sliding roof for vehicles



Sept. 20, 1949. v

H. MOBBS ET AL SLIDING ROOF FOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21,1947 Allorney Sept. 20, 1949. H. MOBBS ET AL SLIDING ROOF FOR VEHICLESInuenlor H T b QYi'MobBs and I GQOTQ Q H. S fh Attorney l y //\.m '1 Mir2 Sept 20, 1949. 0555 ET AL 2,482,429

I SLIDING ROOF FOR VEHICLES Filed Nov. 21, 1947 s Shets-Sheet s InventorHQYbGr f Mabbs and Gb- Smii'h 39. 1 fi i} W fi i m......... I: *7} an mT w n EE: 3 w

\N mm N Am g m I EGPEIE E F EFF Patented Sept. 20, 1949 SLIDING ROOF FORVEHICLES Herbert Mobbs, Church Brampton, near Northampton, and GeorgeHenry Smith, Slough,

England Application November 21, 1947, Serial No. 787,366 In GreatBritain November 28, 1946 6 Claims.

This invention relates to roofs for vehicles of the type in which aslidable panel normally closes an opening in the roof and can be lockedin the closed position, or can be released and moved along guides toexpose the opening more or less as may be required.

One object of this invention is to provide more effective means forguiding the slidable panel in its movements and supporting it inintermediate or partially opened positions.

Another object is to provide improved means for locking the panel whichwill be particularly effective in preventing any undesired. movements ofthe panel when locked in either the closed or in partially openedpositions.

A still further object is to provide locking means for the slidablepanel effective to give locking engagement at all four corners of thepanel, particularly when it is in its closed position.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises thefeatures of construction andoperation more particularly described withreference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment ofthe invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a vehicle roof;

Figure 2 shows, to a larger scale, a longitudinal section on the lineindicated at IIII in Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a transverse section, partly broken away, taken on the lineIII-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse section partly broken away, taken on the lineIV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a partial sectional perspective view of the vehicle roof atone side of a vehicle; and

Figure 6 is an underneath plan view, partly broken away, and partly insection, of a vehicle roof embodying the features of the invention.

In the drawings, |0 represents the sliding panel and II the cover of thefixed roof extending toward the rear of the vehicle, while I2 is thefront door, |3 is the rear door and I4 the windscreen. The rails neareach side of the roof on which the panel can move are in the form ofangle irons l5, the panel having downwardly projecting lugs carryingrollers l6 at about its mid-length, and similar lugs carrying rollers l1and I8 near its front and rear ends for running on the rails l5. In theexample shown the rollers l6 are on a transverse axis a little in frontof the middle of the panel so that the panel tends to rise at the frontand fall at the rear about this axis when free to do so. The panel I0 issupported by a frame which includes a central longitudinal channelmember l9, front and rear channel members accommodating the lockingmechanism, and side channel members 2|. A handle 22 under the frontchannel member 2|] serves to turn a short shaft 24 carrying a disc 23which is connected by a link 26 to a similar disc mounted on a short'shaft 21 under the rear of the panel. By this connection both discs 23and 25 are turned and controlled simultaneously by the handle 22. Thedisc 23 has a notch in its periphery where a stop pin 23 is arranged forlimiting the turning movements of the discs up to about 90 degrees. Aspring 29 bearing on the edge of disc 23 between lugs 29 projectingtherefrom, also checks the turning movements of the discs 23 and 25.Links 30 attached at their inner ends to the disc 23, extend throughslots in the frame of the panel and their outer ends are adapted toengage under the rails l5 for locking purposes. Similar links 3| extendfrom the rear disc 25 through slots in the frame of the panel, to engagewith the rails |5 toward the rear.

In the closed position of the panel its front end must be held downwhile its rear end is raised, and this result is attained by providingwedge surfaces or ramps 32 at the front under the rails I5, and wedgesurfaces or ramps 33 at the rear which are oppositely inclined, so thatthe ends of links 30 and 3| when extended, engagingwith these ramps,will cause the front of the panel to descend while turning about therollers l6 as a pivot. This turning movement is then possible becausethe rails |5.terminate near the front as seen in Figures 1 and 2 beforethe top of the windscreen which is connected to the rails by a channelmember 36. descend into this channel member, as seen in Figure 2. Thepanel carries a flange plate 34 at the front which bears against aresilient beading 35 to form a fluid-tight joint when the front of thepanel is drawn down. The rear end of the panel rises in the closedposition, while the rollers l8 are lifted clear of the rails l5 as seenin Figure 2, and a stepped portion 31 at the rear of the panel comesagainst a resilient packing 38 inside the fixed roof I to form afluid-tight joint at the rear. The top of the panel forms a continuationof the curved surface I of the fixed roof when the panel is raised atthe rear as seen in Figures 1 and 2. The chain-dotted lines in thesefigures show the extent of the rising movement of the front of the panelwhenthe links 30 and 3| are withdrawn out of engagement with the ramps32 and 33 respectively. The rear end of the panel is then at a lowenough level to pass under the fixed roof I l.

The fixed roof has an internal plate 40 and the The rollers H at thefront can,

3 rear of the panel has a bufier bar 39 across it, which comes to restin an upward bulge in the plate 40 in the closed position of the panelas in Figure 1. When the rear end of the panel is lowered the bar 39moves under the plate 40 until it 5 is arrested by an abutment M at therear. The plate 40 prevents. the. rear end from rising until the paneldrawn fully? forward again ready for closing its front end over thewindscreen.

The flanges of the rails l5 have afiixed thereto as by welding metalgutters 45 which may form an extension of the outer cover ll ofitliefixed' roof as seen in Figure 5, and which provide upstanding outerwalls 46 risingjnsi'de"thepornice mouldings 41 serving to obscure theedges of 'the panel as seen from the sides of the vehicle. The panel isguided laterally by downward extensions 42 at each side at the front andrearends-carrying sockets with balls 43 projecting from them These ballsrun against the faces of the gutters fi5 attached to the flanges of therails l5 as seen in. Figure 31 In the closedposition of thepanel: theballs 43' at the rear are raised clear of the rails as'seen in Figure 4,but. they. descendand bear against =tlie faces of the gutters 45 ontherai-ls l5fwhen the rear end of the panel is lowered ready for pushingritbackwardl'y under the -fixedroof Drainage tubes 68; Figure 6, extendrear-wardly from the gutters 45 to: carry awayrainwater,- and tubes 49at the=front-extending down-thesidelposts of the windsoreen serveasimilar pur-- pose at-this end of the gutters.-

In ail intermediate'positions of the panel'in which the frontof=-the=panel-is-drawn back from the windscreen, the extensions 42 andballs 43 provide full lateralguidance; whilethe rollers lfiyl'l and-l8l'runningron-the rails 15 mak'e for Ward and' backward' slidingmovenientsof the" paneteasy; The rollers ll' and i8 'mayrb'e rubbercovered but the middle rollers it which are al'ways' in: contactwith:the Tails lfif-mayrhavemetal surfaces:contacting withthe rails. In allintermediatepositions' of thepan'el the links" SU' eng'ageunder therails 55' without 'pulling th'e front dbwn' as the rear of the panelcannot' ri'se wh'en undei the fixedfrooffi l rand-:49;- The link's fi lal'so proj'ect beneaththerails 'w when the rear end of tlie" panelvis-low'ered andimovedtback far "enough forthe links 36 and 31 to' -beclearrthe ramps-32 3 3 respe'otive1yfl The pressure of the ends oilinksSE andC'BE ur'ldei 'therails 'pro'vides all the "loo g action're'quiredThe details o f th'e construction may be v'aried? example"rollers 'orother meansofguid an'ce can. be us'edin place ofthe' balls-4 3, Whilethe nternal construction and frarnework of the panel oanbe variedaccording to the typeand' size of Vehicle td'w-hich the slidingpanelisfi ttedi" We claim:

1.' A vehicle 'rocf' comprising a fixedrooffpor time th anopenin'gtherein" at'its front end} a" slidable panel" adapted to" close 'saidopening, guide rails at each side ofthe fixe'd 'roof port'i'on' extendinnear to the'front thereof and extend: ing backwardly underthe'fix'edrcof portion," anti-friction means for"silp'porti ng saidslidable panel on said guide rails at apositio'n'intrr ne diate of itslength about which" said"panel"is' adapted'to rock'in itsforwardposition .addi tional' anti-friction means of sup ort adjacentthe" front end ofsaid panel adaptd to"runon saidvguider'ails whensai'dpanel'is retracted' fromor advanced towards said-opening but to"drop 75 beyond the front ends of said guide rails when the panel is inits forward closing position, ramps associated with each of said guiderails near to the front ends thereof, and locking mechanism on saidpanel comprising members adapted to be projected against said ramps andthereby to draw dewn thefront of-- said panel when said lockingmechanism is operated.-

2. A vehicle roof comprising a fixed roof portion with an openingtherein at its front end, a slidable panel adapted to close saidopening, guide rails ateach side of the fixed roof portion extendingnear to the'front thereof and extending' baekwardly under the fixed roofportion, anti-friction means-for supporting said slidable panel on saidguide rails at a position intermediate ofit'slength about which saidpanel is adapted to rock in its forward position, additionalanti-friction means of support adjacent the front end of said paneladapted to run on said guiderai'ls when said panel is re'ifracted fromor advanced towards said opening buttodrop" beyond the" front ends: ofsa'id' guide rails when thepanel 'is in. its forward closing position,ramps" associated each of 'saidguide rails adjacent the front thereofand also adja'cz'enttherear endcf said opening in the fixed roofportion; an operating'h andle on saidpanel, and linkage'oper' able bysaid handie including meinbersad'a'pt'ed" raise the'rear end and lowerthe frontend ot said panel. 7 3.-A vehicle roof asclaimed in claim 2 inwhich the intermediate supportingmeans f'or said-panel consists ofrollerson a transverse ax-is near to the-middle of t'he-length ofsald'pan'elg and the additional supporting" meansadjacnt the front endof said panel also consists' of rollers so placed as todrop beyond. thefront eifds of said guide rails in the position of said pa'nel which'it=c10ses said opening in the 'fixe'd'roof' pbi tion.

4. A vehicle roofcomprisinga 'fixedroof p01- tion with an openin thereinat it's front end; a slidable panel adapted to" close'-' said opening;guide rails at each side of the fi'x'e'dr oof'portion" extendingnear'tothe'iront thereof and extend ing backwardly Under the fixedroof portion,

anti 'frlction means for supporting-said slidable panel on said guiderails at aposition interme diate of-its length" about" which said' panelis adapted to rock in its forward position; additional antiefrictionmeans of support adjacent the fro Glid -0f: said :panel adapted to runon" said guide rails when saidpa'nel is retractedfrom or ad vancedtowards 'said opening butto drop? beydnd the frontends of said guiderails whenth'e pan-e1:

is irrits forwardclosing 'p-osition; locki'ng mech anisnr on saidpanepadapted to cl-raw down the front of said panel in its forwardclosing positionfand lateral guide members'c'ompris'ing rolling surfacessecured to said' panel neart'o the ffo'nt :and rear ends thereofadaptedto engage'Withd-ateralguide surfaces associated with" said guid'erails-when -the-panel --is in positions otherthan :that-in-whichit-clOses-the opening in 'saidfixed roof-position,

Ayehicle roof comprisinga fixed roofi'per-s" tion with an openingtherein at its front end, a

slidable panel adapted to close said opening,

guide rails at each side of the fixed roof portion extending near to thefront thereof and extending backwardly under the fixed roof portion,anti-friction means for supporting said slidable panel on said guiderails at a position intermediate of its length about which said panel isadapted to rock in its forward position, additional anti-friction meansof support adfacent the front end of said panel adapted to run on saidguide rails when said panel is retracted from or advanced towards saidopening but to drop beyond the front ends of said guide rails when thepanel is in its forward closing position, locking mechanism on saidpanel adapted to draw down the front of said panel in its forwardclosing position, lateral extensions on the panel near the front andrear corners thereof, ball sockets on said extensions, balls in saidsockets rojecting therefrom on the side nearest said panel, and guidesurf-aces on the lateral faces of said guide rails against which saidballs can bear when the panel is released and retracted from itsposition closing the opening in said fixed roof portion.

6. A vehicle roof comprising a fixed roof portion with an openingtherein at its front end, a slidable panel adapted to close saidopening, guide rails at each side of the fixed roof portion extendingnear to the front thereof and extending backwardly under the fixed roofportion,

6 anti-friction means for supporting said slidable panel on said guiderails at a position intermediate of its length about which said panel isadapted to rock in its forward position, additional anti-friction meansof support adjacent the front end of said panel adapted to run on saidguide rails when said panel is retracted from or advanced towards saidopening but to drop beyond the front ends of said guide rails when thepanel is in its forward closing position, further antifriction means ofsupport adjacent the rear end of said panel adapted to run on said guiderails when said panel is raised at the front and lowered at the rear endthereof, and locking mechanism on said panel adapted to draw down thefront of said panel when said locking mechanism is operated.

V HERBERT MOBBS.

GEORGE HENRY SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,108,456 Thompson et a1. Feb.15, 1938 2,201,330 Wering et a1 May 21, 1940 2,245,832 Simpson June 17,1941 2,263,216 Latchford Nov. 18, 1941 2,434,711 Mobbs et a1 Jan. 20,1948

